Packaging machine



Sept. 16, 1941.

R. Wl VERGOBBI PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 15 5 7M wa l M -m 0 I LNAC ATTORNEY Sept. 16, 1941. R. w. VERGOBBI PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1940.

INVENTOR d-SJ' -RW (Maud-L ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1941 ICE PACKAGING MACHINE Robert William Vergobbi, Quincy, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 26, 1940, Serial No. 3475721 Claims. (Cl. 93-444) This invention relates to a packaging machine.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved packaging machine for closing the bottom flaps of a carton and in which provision is made for registering the carton vertically in order to cause it to assume a predetermined vertical position preparatory to subsequent filling and top closure operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved bottom flap closing-mechanism bywhich the bottom flaps of the carton may be closed in a novel and improved manner. The improved bottom closing mechanism is particularly adapted for use in operation upon cartons composed of relatively thin board. With these general objects in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the packaging machine, and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sufi'icient portion of a packaging maturewhich facilitates operation upon those cartons composed of a relatively light weight board.

Referring now to the drawings, in general, the

invention has been illustrated as embodied in a packaging machine having provision for forming, filling and closing thecarton, only sufiicient portions of such a machine being herein illustrated 1 as will enable the invention to be understood. The

illustrated packaging machine is provided with a rotatable disk It having a plurality of pockets or carriers l2 mounted thereon in which the cartons it are supported. The rotatable disk I0 is chine, embodying the present invention, to en-- able it to be understood; Figs. 2, 3 and-4v are perspective views diagrammatically illustrating the successive steps in the operation of the machine for producing the present bottom fold; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism for relieving the pressure upon one side of the carton during the vertical registration thereof; Fig. 6 is a front elevation ,of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. '7 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, being partly in cross-section and showing the parts in a different position of operation.

In general, the present invention contemplates a packaging machine of the type wherein a plurality of cartons arev arranged to be supported by carton holding pockets mounted upon a carrier and with top and bottom flaps of the carton extending beyond the top and bottom respectively of the pocket. In order to insure satisfactory operation of the entire machine, provision is made for registering the cartons vertically with relation to their pockets in order to cause the cartons to assume a predetermined vertical position, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention, this vertical registration is effected by bottomfiap folding mechanism-of novel and improved structure and operation. Provision is also made for relieving the pressure or friction of the pocket with relation to the carton at the time of the verticalregistration of the carton, a feaadapted to be intermittently rotated to present the cartons into operative position with relation to the various instrumentalities' forming part of the packaging machine for performing the bottom closing, filling, top closing and sealing operations to produce a complete filled and sealed package.

In the operation of the packaging machine, previous to arriving at the illustrated device forming the subject matter of the present invention for closing some of the bottom flaps to enable the carton to be filled and for vertically registering the carton in the pockets as above described, the carton is inserted into the pocket It in its open or tubular condition, as illustrated, and with its top and bottom flaps extended, as shown. After leaving the present device, where three of the usual four bottom flaps of the carton are closed, the carton is presented to a filling unit to be filled with the-material being packaged. During the filling operation, the fourth flap remains in its extended position andthereafter the carton is presented to an adhesive applying station wherefadhesive' is applied to the fourth fiap and the flap closed to seal the carton. The top flaps are likewise closed and sealed after the filling operation has been completed. Such mechanisms may comprise any of the usual carton filling and sealing instrumentalities now embodied in commercial packaging machines and have difilcult to handle successfully'in a high speed packaging machine because of the relatively weak structure of the carton. However, it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect since the present invention may be embodied in a mahi e for handling cartons de p mate 1y registered vertically therein.

. for limiting the movement of rial of a more; substantial nature as well.

' Referringnow to Figs. land 2,'it will be observed that the carton I4 is provided with the usual four bottom flaps including and flaps l6, I8, and side flaps 26, 22. In the operationof the machine, the side flap 26 is first folded in to closed position, and inthe preferred embodiment of the invention provision is made for binding. the end flaps l6, I6 outwardly a distance suiflcient to. avoid interference with the closure 'of the side flap 26. As herein shown, the side flap I8 is held in its outwardly moved position by a stationary hook shaped member 24 adjustably sup- I ported in a bracket 26 attached to a bar 26 fixed to a stationary part-of the machine frame, as shown in Fig. 'I. In operation, when the carton is moved into the bottom folding position, the leading flap I6 rides over the stationary member,

the flap immediately returning to its vertically extended positionwhen it passes beyond the member 24, and as the carton continues to move the rear flap I8 is engaged by the member 24 just before the carton comes to rest so that the flap I6 is held in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 during-the folding operation.

The leading flap I6 is arranged to be moved outwardly by a cam operated finger '36 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 32 fixed in themachine frame. A second arm 34 of the finger .66 is connected by av link 86 to one arm 88 of a cam lever 46, the latter carrying a roller 42 in cooperation with a cam 44 fast upon a cam shaft 46 forming apart of the packaging machine.

From the description thus far, it will be job- 35 served that the end flaps l6, I8 have been moved outwardly in preparation for folding in the side flap 26, and as herein shown, the flap 26 is arranged to be tucked in by a movable folding plate 66 through connections from a 'cam 62. In ac cordance with the present invention the folding plate is also arranged to raise the carton in its pocket in the event that the cartonis not proper- The folding plate 66 is mounted on a link 64 which is pivotally connected at one end to one arm 66 of a two armed lever, and the link 64 is connected at its other end by a link 66 to an arm 66 pivotally mounted on a shaft 62 journalied in suitable bearings in a bracket 64 attached to the machine frame. The arm 66 also is rockingly mounted on the shaft 62 andthe second arm .66 of the two armed lever is connected by a link to one arm 16 of a cam lever 12 which carries a roller 14 cooperatingwith the operating cam 62. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the arms 66, 66 and links 64, 68 are arranged to be rocked as a unit to fold the flap 26 inwardly, the parts being held together in the position shown by a spring-I6, one end of which is connected to the plate carrying link 64, and the other end to a stud l6 secured in the arm 66. One end 86 of thestud I8 is arranged to engage a portion 82 of the link 64 to serve as a stop the links and to maintain the parts in the position shownin Fig. 1.

In'the operation of the device, when the actuating member 66 is rocked in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. l, the parts are moved as a unit I to tuck in the flap 26, and when the unit has been 70 moved a distance sufiicient to dispose the plate 66 in a position substantially parallel to the bottom of the carton, as shown in Fig. 7, thetarm 66 is arranged to engage a stop screw 64 secured to a bar 86 attached to the machine frame. with 7 ment the links 54, 68 rock on their pivots so as height with respect to its pocket, a stationary provision is made forrocking the gate slight] 'the parts in this position the pivoted point 88 becomes fixed so that upon further clockwise to move theparts relative to the arm 66, the spring'li being extended as shown in Fig. 7.

In order to. limit the upward movement of the carton and .to register it at a predetermined top plate or gauge member 96 is provided, fixed to the machine frame, and against which the top flaps of the carton contact. 1

Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for bending the side flap-22 slightly outwardly in order to permit the end flaps I6, I8 to be folded over in overlapping relation to the side-flap 26 during subsequent operations, and'as herein shown, an angular plate 92 carried by the link 64 and disposed immediately below the folding plate 56 is arranged to engage the flap 22 and bend it outwardly, as shown in Fig. 7.

In practice, when operating upon cartons made up of relatively thin board stock, such as cardboard of approximately nine-thousandths thickness, for example, it was found that the lower edge of the front panel would have a tendency to buckle during the folding and registering operation above described on account of the relativ'ely weak structure of the carton, thus producing an imperfect bottom fold and improper registration. In order to eliminate such buckling of the carton panel, a yieldingly mounted supporting bar 94 is provided which operates to press against the lower portion 95 of the front panel and to prevent buckling or twisting of the car-- ton during the bottom folding operation. As herein shown, the supportingbar 94 is mounted upon two pins 96, 98 slidingly mounted in a supporting member I66 attached to the bar 28. Coil springs I62, I64 are coiled about the pins 96, 96, respectively between the members 94 and I66, and the outer ends of the pins are provided with keys I66 to limit the movement of the bar- 94. It will be observed that the forward portion of the bar 94 is curved, see Fig. 5, so as'to permit the carton to be moved into yielding engagement with the bar as it is moved into operative position from the preceding station.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be observed that one side I68 of the pocket I2 is carried by an arm I69 pivotally, mounted at II6 to provide a gate which is opened at the proper time to permit insertion of and removal of the carton during the operation of the packaging machine. In practice, such gate is yieldingly held against the side of the carton in order to retain the same firmly in the pocket, such as by a spring II2. When handling light weight cartons the normal tension of the spring causes the front panel to buckle slightly, as shown at I I4 in Fig. 5. In order to relieve the pressure of the gate so as to permit the carton tosquare itself up and to permit a minimum frictional resistance during the elevating movement of the carton as described,

and, as herein shown, an arm II6 formed in te'grally with the gate arm I69 is provided wit a roller II8 which is arranged to engage a sta tionary cam piece I26 just before the. pocke As herein shown,

comes to rest at the bottom folding station to open the gate sufliciently to relieve the pressure while still serving to support the carton.

From the description thus far, it will be observed that the flap 28 has been folded in and the carton has been raised bodily in the pocket. Thereafter, in the operation of the machine, provision is made for closing the end flaps I8, 28. see Fig. 6, the end 'flap I8 is folded over by a folding arm I22 which is rockingly mounted upon the stud 82. A second arm I24 forming part of the folding arm is connected we link I26 to one arm I28 of a cam lever I30 which is provided with a roller I 82 arranged to cooperate with a cam I34 mounted fast upon the cam shaft 46.

In operation, the end flap I8 is not folded in until the carton has started to move to the next station of operation, and in the interim the previously the plate 50. As the carton starts to move, the plate 50 starts to retract still in engagement with the flap 20, this movement of the carton with relation to the folding plate being made possible by the provision of cut-outs I58, I 50 in the plates 50, 92. when the flap I8 has ridden over the holding member 24, the folding arm I22 operates to tuck the flap in while the plate 58 is being fully retracted. By this time the remaining flap I8 has been engaged by a stationary rail I 36 to fold it in, and in operation the arm I 22 continues in engagement with its flap I8 during the movement of the carton until the flap I8 also has been received under the stationary rail I38 to hold the flaps in their folded flap is held in position by.

closed position in readinessfor the filling operation.

From the above description it will be seen that the present bottom folding device is particularly adapted for use in a packaging machine for handling cartons made of relatively thin board stock and that it also serves to register the carton vertically with relation to the pocket in order to cause it to assume a predetermined vertical position preparatory to subsequent filling and closing operations. I

While the preferred embodiment of the in- Q vention has been herein illustrated and described,

it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, in combination, a movable carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold a carton with top and bottom flaps extended above and below the pockets, a gauge member disposed above the pocket and above the extended top flaps of the carton supported therein, bottom flap folding instrumentalities, and mechanism for adjusting the position of the carton in the pocket to cause the top flaps to engage said gauge member and to cause the carton to be thereby disposed in a predetermined vertical position for subsequent operations to be performed thereon.

2. In a packaging machine, in combination, a movable carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold a carton with top and bottom flaps extended above and below the pockets, and means adapted to be moved into engagement with the carton while the latter is held in the pocket foradjusting the position of the carton in the pocket to cause the wardly the two said the pockets, means for adjusting the position of the carton in the pocket to cause the carton 'toassume a predetermined vertical position, said means comprising a bottom flap folding member, and operating means for moving the same and the carton into a predetermined vertical position with respect to the pocket.

4. In a packaging machine, in combination, a movable carrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold a carton with top and bottom flaps extended above and below the pockets, means for adjusting the position of the carton in the pocket to inward and also a vertical movement, said mechanism including a four bar one portion of its movementand to thereafter engage the bottom edge of the carton to cause the latter to move vertically during the remainder of its operating stroke.

6. In a packaging machine, in combination,

carton supporting means arranged to support a carton with the bottom flaps extended, and bottom flap folding means comprising amov'able folding member provided with one portion for engaging and folding inwardly the first bottom flap of the carton and another portion for folding outwardly the opposing bottom flap of the carton preparatory to the folding inwardly of the two intermediate bottom flaps.

7. In a packaging machine, in combination, carton supporting means arranged to support a carton with the bottom flaps extended, and bottom flap folding means comprising a movable folding member provided with one portion for engaging and folding inwardly the first bottom flap of the carton and another portion for folding outwardly the opposing bottom flap of the carton preparatory to the folding inwardly of the two intermediate bottom flaps, and two flap folding members for engaging and holding outintermediate flaps during the folding of the first bottom flap.

8. In a packaging machine, in combination, carton supporting means arranged. tosupportacarton with the bottom flaps extended,,and bottom flap folding means comprising a flap folding member for folding in the first bottom flap, means for holding outwardly the remaining bottom flaps, and a yieldable support for the lower linkageadapted to move said one flap to its closed position during the panel to which the first folded flap is atpanel ofthe carton opposite the side panelto a which the first folded bottom flap is attached.- 7

9. In a packaging machine, in combination, 10. In a packaging machine, in combination, a

carton supporting means arranged to support a movable carrier provided with a plurality of carcarton with the bottom flaps extended; and bot- 5 ton holding pockets, each constructed to hold folding member provided with one portion for above andbelow the pocket, said pocket having engaging and folding inwardly the first bottom one side thereof pivoted to be capable of outward flap of the carton and another portion for foldmovement, bottom flap folding means, means -ing outwardly the opposing bottom flap of; the 10 for adjustingthe position ofthe carton in the carton preparatory to the folding inwardly of I pocket to cause it to assume a predetermined the two intermediate bottom flaps, and two iiap vertical position, and cam operated means for folding members for engagin and holding outmoving the pivotal side of the pocket outwardly wardly the two said intermediate flaps during when the carton is to be moved vertically with the folding of the first bottom flaps, and a yield- 5 relation to the pocket.

able support for the lower portion of the side ROBERT WILLIAM vnncaossr; 

